Do The Bow-Wow Boogie Saturday

Dance the night away and bid on special items to help the Humane Society of Central Arizona raise funds for operating expenses.

Junction 87 will provide the dance music from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Mazatzal Casino. There will also be silent and live auctions.

Included in the live auctions during the evening will be the chance to win the honor of having your pet’s picture on the cover of the HSCAZ 2010 pet calendar.

Auctioneer Eddie Armer will ignite the crowd with his high-energy, crowd-pleasing natural ability to auction items for a cause he believes in. There will also be many silent items to auction during this event. In fact, according to organizers, Kathleen Hughes and Kitty Lucek, most of the items will be offered in the silent auction. Some pieces to look for are an original, framed watercolor of a French street scene; a large, white ceramic rooster complementing several French country décor items. There will also be Native American jewelry and art, a NASCAR jacket, an eco-friendly mini refrigerator, and other art and décor items.

Hughes estimates there will be about 100 items on which to bid in the silent auction. And bids can be made up until about 9 p.m., she said.

Tickets can be purchased for $5 at the door, or in advance at the HSCAZ Animal Shelter, 812 S. McLane Road, or at the HSCAZ Thrift Store, 404 W. Main St. Hughes said those coming to the benefit are also encouraged to bring pet food contributions.

The Humane Society of Central Arizona dance is being made possible by the generosity of sponsors Hospice Compassus, CJ Excavating, Payson Care Center and Western Village.

Anyone interested in sponsoring or donating to the auction can contact Kathleen Hughes at (928) 474-3808. If any items are not taken in the auctions, they will go to the new Humane Society Thrift Store, Hughes said.

Calendar pets

Now is the time to start seriously thinking about the 2010 pet calendar. Begin by finding or taking a special picture of your pet(s) and reserving your special date in the shelter’s upcoming calendar. The earlier you register, the more assured you will be to get the date(s) you desire.

Dates will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Surprise a family member or friend with the gift of a 2010 calendar with a photo of their pet on a day that is important to them.

Registration forms are now available on the shelter’s Web site at www.humanesoicietycentralaz.org or a form can be picked up at the Animal Shelter at 812 S. McLane Road. The deadline for submission of registration forms and pictures is Friday, Oct. 4. Photos can be submitted with the registration form using photo prints or on a CD; please put your pet’s name, your name and phone number on the photo print or the CD, also note if you would like to have the photo back.

The cost of reserving your special date on the calendar is $20 per date, and when the calendar is printed in the fall, the price of each calendar is $10. If you need a person to take a picture of your animal, please call shelter director Ellie Watson at 474-5590 to schedule an appointment. All profits go to help care for the stray, lost and abandoned animals of the Humane Society of Central Arizona (formerly Payson Humane Society).

When taking those special pictures of your pet, it might be a good idea to keep in mind the season you want it to be inserted in the calendar, if you want a winter date, for example, you might want a winter scene. Or if you want around July 4, you might want a summer or patriotic picture. Also, those unusual or very special shots are always fun to use. These are just a few ways we can continue to make the shelter calendar fun and interesting and make our pets have their day in the spotlight.

Here is a photography tip for taking pictures of your pet: photographs taken outside provide more natural coat color as well as better eye detail. When the photograph is taken indoors, try to find a large window that provides a strong light source. In either case, the sun or other light should be to the side or behind the photographer so the pet’s face is not totally in shadow. When taking a picture of your pet and the lighting is good, turn off your flash (or use the red-eye setting) so that your pet will not have “flash eyes” and their beautiful eyes will enhance the photograph.

So start snapping lots of pictures of your pets and pick up a registration form to reserve your date(s) for the 2010 Humane Society Calendar!